Cornering the Market

This month, Megan Merino looks at The Barras, one of Scotland’s longest-running markets, and finds out how venue manager Ashleigh Elliott is getting it in shape for future generations

From its origins as a place where hawkers sold goods from wheelbarrows in the early 1900s, The Barras Market in Glasgow’s East End has been a Scottish retail landmark for more than 100 years. In recent decades, The Barras has been somewhat overshadowed by its upstairs ballroom, the iconic music venue which hosts some of the world’s biggest contemporary artists. However, as a long-time admirer of the historic space, Barras venue manager Ashleigh Elliott continues to see the market’s huge untapped potential.

‘It was just plodding on. It was still running but wasn’t as busy; there were lots of spare stalls and I thought, “I could really do something here”.’ Work began last summer, as stalls were stripped back and repainted in the original market colours (which indicated how much rent sellers paid to the landlords at the time). Sustainable Market Row (a string of vintage and pre-loved clothing stalls) and Hippie Lane were introduced, sparking interest seemingly overnight.

‘Initially, I was messaging people, young businesses in the area or those that had popped up on social media, that I thought were really cool and creative,’ Elliott recalls. ‘I’d say “hi, fancy coming down and trying a stall?” I was getting straight up no’s at the start. I’ll tell you, now they’re all messaging me and asking for stalls. And I’m like, “I’m so sorry. I’ll have to put you on a waiting list!”’

More stalls are now located at a neighbouring market shed on London Road, but despite the success of its expansion, Elliott and her team want to avoid the complete gentrification of the space. ‘It’s really important that I communicate with those older traders about what’s happening around them, so they don’t feel like they’re being pushed out. New traders need to understand The Barras because there’s no community like it; those who have been here for 20-plus years are the people that carry the history and they’re the people that need to stay.’

The marriage between old and new is harmonious so far, as new audiences flock to young brands while uncovering original hidden treasures. ‘There’s nowhere else like it in Scotland, where you can get a blend of Jimmy who sells old random tools and hi-fis from the 60s, to the Modern Love store selling trendy homeware. There’s a proper mix.’

Another area Elliott was keen to expand was the market’s connection with Barrowland’s famous ballroom. ‘We’ve got a goldmine of artists upstairs that we should be utilising,’ she insists. Last month, East End musician Joesef took over a stall to launch his new album, while the lead singer of Amyl And The Sniffers came down to shop from local sellers. Seasonal experiences and pop-ups will keep coming too, with a Hong Kong-inspired event of street food, music and lion dancers taking over the market on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March. ‘Things like this just really get us in front of new people,’ adds Elliott. ‘They remind everyone that The Barras are still here.’

The Barras Market, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow, barrasmarket.com